About Evie
On the fifth of March, thirty years ago, Evie Breanna Benson was born. A healthy child with an innate adoration of animals and a desire to rescue any creature from harm. She became a vegan in her adult life and an animal rights activist.
Evie was a kind and sensitive girl with a strong work ethic and a sensitivity towards injustice. She was not afraid to speak up when a wrong was perceived. Evie became a Mental Health Nurse, studying as a mature aged student and graduating with merit.
From a very early age, Evie displayed deep sensitivity and, from time to time, signs of an eating disorder and depression. There were visits to therapists and times when she insisted she was well and didn’t need help.
On the twenty seventh of October 2020, Evie made the decision to leave us. The void she left in her wake was as palpable as it was empty. We who knew her began saying For Evie every time we saw an animal in its habitat, as this had been her dream, to see every Australian animal at least once in the wild. This she didn’t manage to achieve. But we can.
All of us can share positive energy and choose to spread hope and warmth by doing our share of good gestures in the world. That brings me to the sanctuary we plan to build, and grow, in her memory.
The Sanctuary
The Garden of Evie is being planned in memory and honour of Evie Benson. The vision is to rescue and nurture any animal in distress and, where it cannot be returned to its natural habitat, it can thrive in the Garden of Evie.
We would love for interested and positive people with heart to get involved. We will have plants to attract butterflies and bees, free ranging hens, sheep and goats as permanent residents. We will rescue and rehabilitate wildlife. Possibilities are endless and the scope of the sanctuary is dependent upon the contributions of everyone involved. Contributions could be in the form of materials for fences and enclosures, animal feed, monetary donations, and so forth.
The Garden of Evie will be a not-for-profit organisation. The names of all donators will be published in our gallery, unless anonymity is requested. Those donations over $2000 will have the contributor’s name printed on a plaque and displayed in the sanctuary. All benefactors receive monthly newsletters with updates on the sanctuary development and events. All will be included in the growth from its more rudimentary stages through to fulfilment of our dreams.
The Goal
The Garden of Evie Australia exists to support the needs of animals, both wild and domestic. We pledge to care for all animals entering our sanctuary, regardless of origins. There is a strong emphasis on the mental health, both human and animal, of all within our boundaries.
The Garden’s namesake, Evie Benson, suffered from depression for most of her life and we reject negativity and promote positive interactions at all times in the pursuit of our programs in Evie’s name.
Inclusion is our aim and this will become evident in our practices. Outreach and volunteer programs will be some of the strategies used to involve the community, with particular emphasis on schools and mental health organisations.
Donations
All donations are used to further Evie’s cause and donors, unless otherwise requested, have their names published on the website. For donations of over $2000 we will have a plaque erected in the sanctuary in the donor’s name, unless anonymity is preferred.
All donations fund essential resources for the sanctuary’s continuing rehabilitation and care of distressed and injured animals.
By donating to The Garden of Evie you will be a part of its inception. In the form of monthly newsletters, we will communicate our progress to you, involving you where possible. Your contribution will be crucial to our growth and you will be a part of every stage of development.
We, at The Garden of Evie, appreciate all donations, big or small, whether they be monetary, feed, equipment, or skills.
LET US BUILD THIS DREAM TOGETHER – FOR EVIE.
Our Contributors
Julie
$100.00Kate Goodale
$25.00I wish I had known my cousin so much better. so sad she was in pain and couldn’t find a way through xx
Nobody Important
$200.00Aunty Kim and phill
$50.00For beautiful Evie .. never forgotten and much loved
Sean Mitchell
$50.00For a cousin who I wish I knew better! 💔
Diane Mitchell
$50.00For my beautiful niece ❤
Mathew Carpenter
$10.00Proud to be the first donator for The Garden of Evie!
Progress - May 2021
The Garden of Evie has found its home in Western Australia. It has 85 acres of bush land for wildlife rehabilitation and plenty of opportunity for growth and operation. In just a few months we will be allowed access and can begin our journey. We will be planting trees and bushes that attract bees and butterflies, building enclosures for our cows and sheep as well as rescued wildlife.
Our gratitude goes to all of our contributors as, without your help, we would not be going ahead. The property is a blank slate waiting for all of our contributions.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP.
Progress - October 2021
Well, it has been a year since Evie chose to leave and all our lives have moved on. Nothing really changed in the world. It kept on spinning. That seemed wrong. But here, at The Garden of Evie, we’ve been busy settling in and slowly building a place to thrive in our beautiful girl’s name. So, that’s a change, a little piece of paradise now exists that didn’t before.
And paradise it is. We have birds galore and the sounds of rainforest songs are all about. Huge mobs of kangaroos live nearby and share our paddocks with us. Wildflowers and apple blossoms attract bees, butterflies and more birds. We have dams for watering holes or just to sit beside and enjoy the serenity. At night, the nightjars call out and the boo-book owl announces its presence. We cannot conceive of a more fitting spot for our Evie’s soul to linger. We hope she agrees. Soon, a lock of her hair will be used in the earth prepared for a budleia, a shrub that attracts butterflies. That is for our next newsletter.
Please enjoy the photographs of what we’ve been up to so far. We plan on using all our donors names and, so far, have used three. We require sheep fencing to secure our top paddock for future residents and it is for this we will use your much appreciated donations.
We had hoped to have our first residents by now, two lambs and some hens, but some personal issues have required us to travel to Perth in the next month and we would not be there to tend the animals. That will all change in the near future when the third member of our team joins us and there are more hands on deck.
Progress - November 2021
Our first rescue at TGOE. A fledgling magpie floundering on the ground. We made a nest out of a hanging basket and a towel. Mum and dad are returning to feed and swoop anyone, or dog, that comes too close.